Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Candace Walker, Kaylan Smith, Jordan Tate, and Tiffany Thomas have their share of sorrows, but neither of them realizes how deep the sorrow goes. What happens when they agree to meet for a weekend of relaxation in beautiful Napa County? Which one will leave the same or worse?

For Candace Walker, life has left her battered and bruised. Kaylan Smith has struggled with prejudice from her in-laws. After fifteen years of marriage, bitterness is trying to raise its ugly head for Jordan Tate, whose husband wants to call it quits. And for Tiffany Thomas, dealing with rejection has never been one of her greatest feats.

Although they have been friends for years, they thought they knew each other well. But will a secret destroy their relationship and bring the sisterhood to a complete halt? Will they be able to forgive and allow God to mend that which might be torn?

GUEST POST

Christian Fiction: An Entertaining Read

When I picked up my pen to write my first book which was a non-fiction Christian book, I had a desire to expand my readers to include those who love fiction─ Christian Fiction. As an inspirational and fiction writer, I write to inspire and empower readers. I write because I feel I have message to share with readers, not only to entertain readers but to help them grow spiritually. I love to mix real life stories into my fiction. Although each story is unique, we experience some of the same feelings, situations, and challenges in life in which the reader can identify with. With the ability to craft fiction books, it gives me the opportunity to live through each character.

What is Christian Fiction? I’ve been asked that several times. I’ll try my best to explain it the best way I know possible by breaking down both words. First, let’s define the word Christian. The first mention of the word Christian came from the early church. Christians were referred to those who were followers of Jesus Christ.

Fiction is the form of any work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not real, but rather, imaginary and theoretical—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical, cinematic, or musical work (Wikipedia)

As a fiction writer, I have attempted to interweave my faith into each fiction story without being “preachy.” I think it’s important to be able to tell a story which shares the lives of characters that face challenges and go through real life situations. I want to convey to each reader that there is always a message of hope no matter the challenge or the struggles one may face. Yes, these stories are a work of fiction and for entertainment but they are written to bring the reader into the lives of characters that have real feelings and who have stories to tell.

Living Separate Lives, a Christian Novella, centers around four high school friends, who have not seen each other in years. Candace Walker, Kaylan Smith, Jordan Tate, and Tiffany Thomas have agreed to come together for a mini retreat in Napa County. A well-planned out weekend of fun, relaxation and a reunion turned into a nightmare.

Each of the characters is dealing with their own personal issues. For Candace Walker, life has left her battered and bruised. Kaylan Smith has struggled with prejudice from her in-laws. After fifteen years of marriage, bitterness is trying to raise its ugly head for Jordan Tate, whose husband wants to call it quits. And for Tiffany Thomas, dealing with rejection has never been one of her greatest feats. Each one of the characters is compelling people living their own individual stories

Readers will be able to identify with one of the characters in Living Separate Lives. The book opens up by introducing Candace, who is reflecting on her life, her troubled family and the consequences of the decisions she has made. There are other characters such as Kaylan, who is a giving person and only believes the best in people. She demonstrates the character of Christ. Tiffany is in a league of her own. She’s independent and strong, yet she recognizes her weaknesses. The innocence of Jordan leads her into unfamiliar territory that will rock her faith and cause her to take a step back and evaluate the one person she thought she knew well.

Christian Fiction is certainly an entertaining read and for those who have never read one of our books…. try this one. You won’t be disappointed.

Paulette Harper is an award-winning and best-selling author. She is the owner of Write Now Literary Virtual Book Tours and is passionate about helping authors succeed in publishing and marketing their books. Paulette has been writing and publishing books since 2008. Paulette is the author of That Was Then, This is Now, Completely Whole and The Sanctuary. Her articles have appeared on-line and in print.